The House of Cards and American Beauty actor has come out as gay in a controversial apology for the alleged sexual misconduct.

Spacey’s statement reads:

I have a lot of respect and admiration for Anthony Rapp as an actor. I’m beyond horrified to hear his story.

I honestly do not remember the encounter, it would have been over 30 years ago.

But if I did behave then as he describes, I own him the sincerest apology for what would have been deeply inappropriate, drunken behavior [sic], and I am sorry for the feelings he describes having carried with him all these years.

PA

On a personal note, Spacey continued:

This story has encouraged me to address other things about my life. I know that there are stories out there about me and that some have been fueled by the fact that I have been protective of my privacy.

As those closest to me know, in my life I have had relationships with both men and women. I have loved and had romantic encounters with men throughout my life and I choose now to live as a gay man.

I want to deal with this honestly and openly and that starts with examining my own behavior [sic].

PA

However, Spacey’s decision to use these allegations as a platform to come out has not gone down well with some observers, who’ve also criticised the actor for suggesting drunkenness mitigates the alleged sexual abuse of a minor.

Rapp, now 46, told Buzzfeed he decided to speak publicly about the abuse he experienced in the aftermath of allegations regarding film mogul Harvey Weinstein and his systematic abuse of female actors in Hollywood for decades.

Strangely, the latest season of Family Guy subtly suggests a prior knowledge of Harvey Weinstein’s disgusting behaviour, with Peter Griffin crudely welcoming a young baby-sitter into his home wearing just a bath robe.

It mirrors harrowing accounts given by numerous women in the film industry of Weinstein’s preferred tactics of abuse.

You can watch it below:

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Now, and only now, with safety in numbers, have these individuals felt able to talk about the abuse they suffered, showing just how insipid and poisonous the nature of sexual abuse can be, at the hands of powerful people.

In bravely telling their stories, these women have inspired others to come forward on social media, using the hashtag ‘Me Too’, in a cathartic but horrific display of how widespread sexual abuse is in wider society.

There’s also the deafening silence of those survivors who’ve been unable to come forward, due to their circumstances, which we would be remiss to forget.

Reminder that if a woman didn't post #MeToo, it doesn't mean she wasn't sexually assaulted or harassed. Survivors don't owe you their story.